Ran

This magnificent masterpiece by the mature Kurosawa is a profound investigation of the folly of war. The film won an Oscar and two BAFTA awards. Shakespeare’s King Lear reinterpreted and filmed as a historical epic in sixteenth-century Japan.

Kurosawa extensively researched the folly of war and the decaying of the family, torn apart by betrayal, greed, and insatiable lust for power. Anno 1985, RAN was the most expensive Japanese film ever made. Its powerful imagery, the intense use of color and the Mahler-inspired soundtrack were further enhanced by the Academy Award-winning costume design.

“All technological progress of recent years has only taught people how to kill each other faster and on a bigger scale. Under such circumstances, I find it very difficult to keep an optimistic view on life.” (Akira Kurosawa)